The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-11

that was given out, Dut ruinors vi u ui-
erent character weroailoat The count
ess no longer appeared in public but
confined herself TO her hotel. In Il few
weeks she seemed ten years older.
THE vicomte, after a voyage OF
some weeks in Italy, returned to Paris,
took apartments in the Rue de Ia
Chaussee d'Autin, and lived the life of
an idler on the pension of 1000 francs
month allowed him by his mother. 1t
would be little to-day, but at that time
it enabled man to make quite figure
in the fashionable world. He passed
his time between love adventures, the
theatres and the green table. Then
little by little his elegance and his
eccentricites began to be talked about
Clubs were not as plentiful as they are
now but the glded youth and The
gSmesters had few of them where
lovers of the green cloth could amuse
themselves.
Zone evening when the Vicomtc Ro-
land. after having won considerable
sum from one of his friends, offered
him his revenge, his opponent rose
and, pushing away the cards, looked at
him in singular manner.
"'Well. no, Roland, said he; what
with your luck with women and your
luck with cards, you have too much
luck for one man.
Roland, though somewhat choleric.
demanded no explanation, and content
ed himself with laughing.
"Some days after, the project OF
police announced himself to the general
at his chateau. What passed between
them / do not know. All that is known
of the affair is that they returned to-
gether to Paris.
AT II o'clock of the evening follow
ing that interview the vicomte was
seated at a table playing ecarte. He
had Just won 10 successive games from
an Englishman, who, passing through
Paris on his way home, had been intro
duced at the club by one of the men,
bers. Roland had considerable sum
before him. The loser had just risen,
and before leaving the table. had bow
ed thrice, when an elderly gentleman
approached the table.
"'Will the Vicomte Roland permit
me to take the gentleman's revengeP
1.-THE young man paled. 1t was his
father.
"'As you are bold player | offer
YOU bold game. 1t will be useless for
you to say that it is too high. Read
And the general handed note folded
twice.
"The vicomte glanced over it and
shuddered visiby.
"Do you acceptP'
''He bowed. The general seated
himself opposite his son, cut a king and
dealt the cards. He won the first hand.
When it was the vicomte's deal he
trembled slightly and strange light
shone in his eyes; nevertheless he
played on. The general won again.
THE vicomte rose, pale as ghost,
and in smothering voice said:
"1n an hour, sir, l shall have acquit'
ted myself"
He left the room without another
word.
On the following morning the guard
ians of the Bots dc Boulogne brought in
the body OF the Vicomte Roland. His
head was blown to pieces, his hand
still grasping the pistol. In a portfo-
lilo was found an unsigned scrap Of
paper, on which were the words;
"'The loser will blow out his brains
THE pretended Englishman was an
accomplished card-sharpcr sent by the
project of police. The three bows had
been the sign agreed upon between him
and the general to indicate that the
vicomte had cheated
THE game was one for life and
death between father and son. Both
were dishonored-th son by his own
act, the father by the sons. But this
dishonor was secret, which threaten
ed to become an open shame. Death
could stife 1.-THE sons death or the
fathers, for the stern old soldier
would himself have disgracod his son
had that son not kept their pact. The
price of the generals secrecy was his
sons life."
A Scorpion Omelette.
A curious dish was prepared the